Measuring and cutting-off machine.



PATENTBD APR. 26, 1904-.

- R. THIRSK.

MEASURING AND GETTING OFF MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28. 1904.

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INVENTOR p Richard Thirsk. W.

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UNITED STATES.

iatented April 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFIC I MEASURINGAND CUTTING-OFF MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,223 dated April 26,1904.

Application filed January 28, 190 i. Serial No. 190,972-- (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD THTRSK, a citizen of the United States, andaresident of (Jordova, Alabama, have invented certainnewand usefulImprovements in Measuring and Cutting-Ofi Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in measuring and cutting-ofi"machines and will be hereinafter defined in the claims terminating thisspecification.

The object of my invention is to improve and simplify the constructionand operation of such devices.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification I have illustratedmy invention embodied in the form which is now preferred by me.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my machine from the cutting side. Fig. 2is an end elevation of the machine from the right side, a portion of theframe being broken away to bettershow the cutter-operating mechanism.Fig. 3 is a side viewof the measuring-wheel, a portion being brokenaway; and Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the rim of themeasuring-wheel.

My invention is applicable to machines intended for measuring andcutting of]? materialsof widely-varying characters and kinds. I haveherein illustrated it as embodyingin a machine for measuring and cuttingoff strips or bands of metalsuch, for instance, as would be adapted toform hoops or bindingstrips for bales and packages of various kinds. Iam, however, well aware that it may be used to measure and cut wire,rods, and, in fact, any kind of material which comes in pieces which areof suflicient length relatively to the pieces cut to make the use of anautomatic device desirable,whether the material be metal, wood, fabric,or otherwise.

The following is a description of my invention as herein illustrated:

Feed-rolls 2 3 are journaled, in the frame 1, so that their peripheriesmay contact. These should be separable to such an extent as tobelt-pulleys 2O 21;

permit passage of the material to be measured and out between them; Ihave herein secured this result by mounting the shaft 5 of the up- 5 perfeed-roller 3 in guides 6, which will permit a slight rise and fall. Asufiicient feeding grip upon the material may be secured either by theweight of the upper wheel and parts connected thereto or by the use of 55 springs, or by both means. I have herein shown springs 7 as assistingthe weight of the feed roll or wheel. Tension-adjusting means such, forinstance, as screws 8Inay be employed. The strip 4 is led' throughguides 9 10 to the cutting-0E device, the's'arne, as herein shown,consisting of a shear-blade 11.

and a movable blade, the latter being carried by or forming a part ofthe pivoted lever 12. This lever is connected by link'13 with a lever14, which is pivoted at 15 and has its upper end normally in position tobe engaged and pushed to one side by a cam projection 17 upon themeasuring and driving wheel 18. From this measuring and driving wheelall the partsof the machine are operated. It may be turned by anysuitable means. I have herein shown it as toothed and driven bya pinion19 upon a shaft which also carries fast and loose wheels ,or rolls 2 and3 are provided with pinions 22 2-3, and these are connected with eachother and with the measuring and driving gear 18 by idler-gears 24 25.In some cases one of the feed-rolls might be an idler,that 30 is, not bepositively driven-4n which case some of these gears would be omitted.

The measuring and driving gear 18 is of a peculiar construction. Byreferring to-Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that its face is com 5 posedof three toothed sections orbands A. B C. The sectionA is a completegeart hat is, the teeth extend entirely around the gear. This section ofthe gear does not mesh with the gear-train by which the feedrrolls areturned. 9 In case gear '18 is driven by other means than by a pinionor'gear this section A may. be entirely omitted. The other two sections,B and C, are interrupted gears, the toothed The shaftsof the feedportions preferably extending about half-way around each. Both thesesections mesh with the gear-train, which drives the feed-rolls, and allsections may mesh with the driving-pinion 19. The section B ispreferably integral with the section A; but section O is separatetherefrom and is secured to the main wheel in such manner that it may beadjusted an gularly with relation thereto. By proper adjustment of thesetwo sections the interrupted portion of the composite gear may beadjusted from about half the periphery to as small an amount as willproduce suflicient dwell, in the feeding mechanism to permit properoperation of'the cut-off mechanism. The teeth of the different sectionsare of course spaced and cut as a single wheel, so that they will matchwhen shifted. The means herein adopted for securing this adjustabilityis shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The section C consists only of a ring, whichfits over a flange 26 on the wheel, being thereby properly centered andsupported. The rimof wheel 18 has a dovetailed or undercut channel 27 inits side face, which receives securing-bolts 28. These bolts are,however, not relied upon to take the torque, and therefore but few needbe used. I have shown but two, The flange 26 has a series of channelsorgrooves 29 cut across its face and spaced to correspond with thespacingof the gear-teeth. The ring C has a steel key 30, which fits inthese grooves. Theadjustment of the ringis therefore a very simplematter, quickly and accurately performed, and not requiring specialskill. The length of band out will correspond with-that is, beproportionate to'the periphery of the wheel covered by the combinedtoothed portions of sections B and Q. Where the pinions on the shaft ofthefeed-rolls are smaller thanthe rolls,'thelength cut will be a mulip eo h h pe iph r l distanc The variations inlengths cut will be by acorresponding multiple of the tooth-spacing of this wheel.

It is evident that many of the details of L this machine may be variedfrom that shown and yet not change the essential character of thedevice. I do not,- therefore, limit my invention to the mechanismsherein shown, as I am aware of many variations which may be madethereupon. I do, however, claim any machine the construction of whichfalls within the terms of the following claims.

What I claim is 1. In a measuring and cutting-off machine, incombination, feed-rolls, positive driving means therefor adapted toproduce a dwell in the feed-rolls once during each cycle of operations,a cutter and means for operating it once during each cycle, and meansfor varying the proportions of the feeding movement and dwell of thefeed-rolls.

2. In a measuring and cutting-01f machine, in combinatiom'means forfeeding and means for cutting off the material, and means for actuatingsaid mechanisms comprising an interrupted gear, and means for varyingthe proportions of the blank and toothed sectors thereof.

3. In a measuring and cutting-off machine, in combination, means forfeeding and means for cutting off the material, and means for actuatingsaid mechanisms comprising a mem ber provided with means for actuatingthe feeding mechanism for a certain portion of its cycle, and means foractuating the cutting-01f mechanism during the remainder of its cycle,and means for varying the proportion of said cycle during which the feedmechanism is actuated.

4. In a measuring and cutting-off machine, in combination, a cutter andmeans for operating it, feed-rolls, driving mechanism for said rollscomprising an interrupted gear having its face divided into two partsadjustable angularly upon each otherto vary the proportions of toothedand blank sectors.

5. In a measuring and cutting-off machine, in combination, a cutter andmeans for operating it, feed-rolls, driving mechanism for said rollscomprising a gear having its face divided into a continuous section andan interrupted section, said interrupted section only, engaging thefeed-roll-driving gears, and a driving-gear therefor engaging thecontinuous section.

6. In a measuring and cutting-off mechanism, in combination, acutting-off mechanism, means for operating the same, feed-rolls, anddriving mechanism for said feed-rolls comprising a gear-wheel having itsface divided into a continuously-toothed section and two sections havinginterrupted sectors, said interrupted sections only, acting upon thefeed-rolldriving mechanism, and one of said interrupted gear-sectionscomprising a ring adjustable angularly upon the other section.

7. In. a measuring and cutting-off machine, in combination, feed-rolls,means for holding said rolls in yielding contact with the material beingcut, guides for said material before and after it passes between thefeed-rolls. a cutting off device adjacent the latter of said guides, ameasuring and driving gear connected with the feed-rolls to drive them,said gear having an interrupted sector adapted to produce a dwell in thefeed-rolls, and also having a side face cam adapted to actuate thecutting-off mechanism during said dwell.

8. In a measuring and cutting-off machine, in combination, feed-rolls,means for holding said rolls in yielding contact with the material beingcut, guides for said material before and after it passes between thefeed-rolls, a cutting off device adjacent the latter of said IIO ITS

guides, a measuring and driving gear connected with the feed -rolls todrive them, said gear having an interrupted sector adjustable in amountand adapted to produce a dwell in the feed-rolls, and also having a sideface cam adapted to actuate the cutting-0E mechanism during said dwell.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, this 12th dayof January, 1904, in the presence of two Witnesses.

RICHARD THIRSK.

Witnesses:

' Scorn MAXWELL,

J. H. CRAIG.

